Lefty Gomez

Vernon Louis Gomez was born November 26, 1908 in Rodeo, California. As a young Latino in California, he was often barred from playing semipro ball around where he lived. Finally, he drew the attention of a scout and was picked up by the Pacific Coast League in 1927. After a successful two seasons with the San Francisco Seals, Lefty was picked up by the New York Yankees for the 1930 season.

Lefty - who stood at 6'2" but weighed only 173 pounds - threw a deceptively fast heater and a nasty curveball that buckled righties and lefties alike. His high leg kick gave him an extra push to the plate, and he was always willing to go the distance, finishing with 172 complete games in his career. Despite all of his pitching talents, though, Lefty was best known for his comedic prowess both on and off the diamond. He would often razz opponents and teammates alike, and he was affectionately nicknamed "El Goofo" by his one-time roommate, Joe DiMaggio.

The secret to my success is a clean living and a fast outfield.

Beginning on May 5, Lefty won his first start in pinstripes, and he never relinquished his role as a winning pitcher. His career record for the Bronx Bombers was 189-101, third most all-time on the club (behind Whitey Ford and his longtime teammate Red Ruffing.) He also went 6-0 in World Series games as part of 5 championship teams, the only pitcher ever to win as many as 5 games in the Fall Classic without suffering a loss.

Lefty dominated the American League throughout his career, and was named to seven consecutive All-Star Games beginning with the inaugural one in 1933, where he recorded the first run batted in. But his 1934 season was his finest in baseball, and one of the best ever put to record. His 26 wins, 158 strikeouts, and 2.33 ERA led the league, the pitcher's equivalent of the Triple Crown.

I'm throwing as hard as I ever did. The ball's just not getting there as fast.

Over the next two years, however, Lefty suffered a breakdown in his arm. Injuries and problems limited his fastball, causing him to readjust his throwing motion and develop a slurve, or slow curve. In 1937, he once again won the pitcher's Triple Crown, going 21-11 and helping propel the Yankees into the World Series once again. In Game 1, he outdueled his longtime nemesis Carl Hubbell to win 8-1, and in Game 4, he not only threw a complete game 6-hitter, but knocked in the winning run himself to clench the sweep for the Yanks.

Despite Lefty's heroics at the plate in the Series and All-Star Game, he was self-described as the worst-hitting pitcher in baseball, and frequently lived up to his reputation. A lifetime .147 hitter in 904 at bats, in 1933 he made a bet with Babe Ruth that he would get 10 hits in a season. On Opening Day, he cranked out 4 hits, and smugly told Ruth he was almost halfway there. When the season finished, he had only 9 hits - and paid the Sultan of Swat $100 for his trouble!

After a dismal season in 1940, where he seemed unable to get any batters out at all, he recovered for a respectable 15-5 season in 1941. Another subpar season followed, however, and the Yankees sold Lefty to the Boston Braves, who in turn sold him to the Washington Senators. Lefty pitched one game for the Nats, took himself out after the first inning, and promptly retired.